November 29, 2011

Toyota, BMW to Team Up on Clean-Engine Technologies
Toyota Motor Corp. and Germany's BMW plan to cooperate on clean-engine technologies, according to The Detroit News. Toyota would obtain diesel engines from BMW, while providing BMW with hybrid technologies in an exchange that would capitalize on the companies' respective technological strengths. Such a deal also would help Toyota reduce the substantial impact of unfavorable exchange rates on its earnings. "We see this as positive for Toyota in that it could lower costs by boosting production of hybrid systems, enhance research and development efficiency . . . and boost European sales by expanding Toyota's diesel-engine lineup," said Kohei Takahashi, Tokyo-based analyst at J.P. Morgan. Toyota is the world's biggest producer of gas-electric hybrid vehicles. "BMW has long had a good reputation for its engine technologies, and we are not surprised that it should be the candidate for a tie-up with Toyota," Noriyuki Matsushima at Citi Investment Research and Analysis said. "Among the German automakers, Daimler has already linked up with Nissan-Renault, and while Volkswagen had a relationship with Toyota 20 years ago, the two are estranged now, so it looks as if BMW was left as the only option," he said in a research note. Click here for more on Toyota and BMW’s plans.

Biggest New-Car Flops for 2011
This has been a terrific year for new cars, with myriad new and redesigned models bringing buyers back into dealers’ showrooms with enthusiasm not seen in several years. But, for every Volkswagen Passat or Chevrolet Cruze that attract scores of new buyers to a given brand, there’s at least one model tucked away in a back corner of a showroom floor that is largely ignored by the motoring public. TrueCar.com provided Forbes with its list of fabulous flops for 2011. These are models that, for one reason or another, have suffered the most precipitous sales drops over the past year (not counting low-volume or discontinued models). Why would some models see such steep ebbs in an auto market that’s otherwise on the rebound? Many cars’ sales slipped this year because of the sudden drop in supply caused by this spring’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Some models suffered because their competitors offered generous cash rebates and cut-rate lease deals to lure bargain-hunting buyers, while others took second stage to new and/or redesigned models in their segments. A few, for whatever reason, just never caught on with buyers’ sensibilities. Check out a photo gallery of this year’s biggest flops here. To read more, click here.

Nissan's Carolin: Next Products Will Drive Growth
Nissan's next wave of products will be squarely in the market's sweet spots. And that, says the automaker's North American sales chief, will kick the company into a higher volume level. According to Automotive News, over the next 24 months, Nissan will roll out a new Sentra, Altima, Versa, Pathfinder, and other products. Next spring, Infiniti dealers will begin receiving a new crossover model, the JX, which represents a potential high-volume segment for the luxury brand. "We have a very strong focus on our core segments going forward," says Brian Carolin, Nissan North America senior vice president for sales and marketing, responsible for Nissan and Infiniti brands. "Even just a couple of years ago, we had one car selling more than 100,000 units a year, the Altima," he said in an interview during the Los Angeles Auto Show. "We now have four: the Altima, Sentra, Rogue, and Versa. We've been able to cultivate four core products that are really driving the volume growth." Nissan has been adding sales and market share for the past two years, but mostly on the back of older models. Read more on Nissan’s future growth by clicking here.

Subaru Launches 'Share the Love' Event on Facebook, at Dealerships
Subaru of America recently kicked off its fourth annual “Share the Love" charity event. According to Auto Remarketing, Subaru will donate $250 for every new vehicle sold or leased through Jan. 2 to one of the following five charities: American Forests, the ASPCA, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Meals On Wheels Association of America, and Special Olympics. Since its inception, Subaru has donated nearly $15 million to charitable causes through the program. The automaker is inviting its Facebook community to participate, potentially raising up to $250,000 in additional support for the five charities. Facebook users can take action by visiting the "Share the Love Charities" tab on the Subaru of America Facebook page, the company explained. Then, users can choose the charity they want to donate to. By submitting a vote for that group, the charity will receive a $1 donation from Subaru. "Share the Love is rooted in our commitment to our customers and the causes they care about the most," said Alan Bethke, director of marketing communications for Subaru of America. "We are pleased to continue the program for a fourth year and are excited about the expansion to the Facebook community,” he added. For more on Subaru’s ‘Share the Love’ charity event, click here.

The Man Who Reinvents Wheels
As a kid in Denmark, Anders Warming religiously polished his parents' cars – among them a mineral-blue Mini 850 – because he loved to trace the progression of their curves. "I touched them so many times, I could close my eyes and draw them," he recalled. As the new design chief for the BMW-revived Mini brand, the 39-year-old Warming has a number of striking car forms to his name. He conceived the original design for the BMW Z4 roadster and the German auto maker's Mille Miglia, a retro-styled concept coupe created in homage to Italian racing tradition. He also presided over the exterior design of the current 5-Series and new 6-Series coupe. Tapped last December to run Mini's design studio, The Wall Street Journal reports that he is now overseeing the next incarnation of the born-again car, taking the British brand's aesthetics further into the future while staying true to its 1960s racing heritage. That includes expanding Mini's model range into ever more modern variations beyond the classic hatch – and the Mini station wagon, compact SUV, convertible, and coupe that are already on the road – while preserving its iconic design elements, like its round headlights and hexagonal grill. Read about Warming and his Mini design philosophy here.

Workplace Discrimination Allegations on the Rise
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a record 99,922 private-sector workplace discrimination charges were filed in fiscal year 2010 — a seven percent increase from 2009. The EEOC said the surge in charges might be due to several factors, including economic conditions, increased diversity and demographic shifts in the labor force, and employees’ greater awareness of the law. What can you do to safeguard your company against loss and litigation? AIADA’s Affinity Partner, Federated Insurance provides risk management assistance to employment-related practices liability (ERPL) policyholders to help prevent losses before they occur. ERPL policyholders have access to the services of in2vate, llc, a national research and development firm focused on preventing loss and litigation from workplace wrongdoing. Business owners who purchase ERPL insurance give themselves a measure of financial protection against costly court settlements and legal fees. Defense costs have been known to reach $100,000 in these types of claims — even when there’s no actual liability on the part of the business. Want to learn more about an ERPL policy for your dealership? Contact your local Federated Insurance Representative or click here to have someone contact you directly.

Around the Web 
Nissan Juke vs. 1971 Datsun 510 [Edmunds Inside Line]
Subaru Debuts Production of BRZ Sport Coupe [Autoblog]
Mercedes' Maybach Super Luxury Brand Will Die [DriveOn]
12 Most Profitable Cars [CNN Money]